Tag Archives: Soups

Homemade Roasted Tomato Basil Soup Beats Any Canned Soup in Your Pantry

I’d much rather eat something fresh and homemade than something out of a box or can. Sure, it can be a little more time consuming, but that’s what my weekends are for. I feel a lot better serving a meal in which I can name every single ingredient. Plus, I don’t mind the bragging rights that come with a little honest-to-goodness made-from-scratch cooking!

One of my husband’s favorite meals is my Roasted Tomato Basil Soup. As soon as the temperatures start cooling off, I’m more than happy to spend a Sunday in the kitchen making this cool-weather meal for him.

I only have to make this once or twice each winter because it fills my Crock Pot completely full and then several containers for freezing. While I may have to invest an afternoon to prepare it once, I’ve got several effortless meals later.  (more…)

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Natalie K

5 Meaty Dinners for the Presidential Debate Night: Obama’s vs. Romney’s Favorite Recipes

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama take to the podium together tonight for the first time in this presidential election. With 33 days left before election day, many Americans are still trying to finalize their votes, certain to be helped by the comments Obama and Romney share on domestic policy issues (the focus of tonight’s debate). For some, the debate will only confirm their voting decision.

As these candidates sink their teeth into some meaty issues that concern all Americans, you can sink your teeth in to some of their favorite recipes. Don’t go in to these debates lightly, or on an empty stomach!

If you run red and want a meal that Mitt Romney calls his favorite, try the Romney Meatloaf Cakes. Ann Romney prepares these with a sweet and tangy homemade ketchup sauce every year for his birthday. If things go his way, the White House chef will prepare these to celebrate his birthday in 2024.


As the governor of Massachusetts, Romney probably gets his fill of some of the best clam chowder in the state. You’ll have no regrets curling up around a piping hot bowl of this homemade Low Carb Clam Chowder, simply made with only 5 ingredients. (more…)

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Natalie K

2 Ingredient Melon Ball Soup is a Tasty Summer Brunch Dessert

When the peak of summer hits, I start craving light, refreshing foods to help cool me down and keep me feeling healthy. Two of my very favorite summertime foods are watermelon and cantaloupe. And while I love eating them as is, it’s fun to change things up every once in a while to make an old thing new again.

My grandpa used to bring black diamond watermelons in by the dozens during the hottest summer months in Kansas. He and my grandma had a garden just outside of their house and I always knew I was in for a treat when I’d peek outside and catch him moseying around, looking to see if anything was ripe. No matter how many times I’d bite into the sweet, ruby red fruit, I always declared “This is the best watermelon I’ve ever had.” That’s exactly how good watermelon should taste every time.

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Posted on July 24, 2023 by Dana

The Secret of the Thai Chicken Noodle Bowl: Eating Well is Easier than You Think

By Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, CSSD, the lead food and nutrition expert for Retrofit.

People always ask me how to start eating better and I say just start right where you are. Don’t wait another minute, start making choices that are improved over yesterday or even this morning. Making healthy choices doesn’t take more time than unhealthy ones, and eating well can be palate-pleasing to even the pickiest of taste-buds. I’m going to share one of my favorite recipes as an example…

The recipe below is 15 minutes start to finish – so it’s perfect for even your busiest days. I used pre-cut, rinsed, fresh veggies to get the nutrition in without the time, swapped out regular pasta for whole grain pasta, and used high-flavor, low-calorie foods (in this case lime, garlic and onion) to pump up the taste without adding fat.

Simple changes can add up to a great plate, enjoy!

Thai Chicken Noodle Bowl

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces uncooked whole grain fettuccini
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 lime juiced (more…)
Posted on May 24, 2023 by GuestBlogger

The Homemade Soup Diet Made Satisfying With These 10 Recipes

On a cold winter day, nothing beats a hearty and warming bowl of soup. There are so many delicious varieties of soup out there that it’s hard for me to pick a favorite!

Click for Potato Leek Soup by Terry Grieco Kenny

Unfortunately, some healthy eaters shy away from soup recipes thinking they are loaded with salt, fat and excess calories. This would be true if you only had restaurant bisques and canned soups. However, simple soup recipes can very easily be diet friendly.

Soup recipes are terrific for those looking to be healthier as they are a great way to get in your daily allotment of vegetables and water. To top it all off, having a bowl of healthy soup before a meal will make you less likely to overeat.

To get you started on the warming and delicious path of low calorie soup recipes, here are 10 healthy soup recipes for weight loss for you to try:

Provencal Vegetable Soup: This is definitely one of the tastiest healthy vegetable soup recipes out there. Loaded with more vegetables than you can shake a stick at, this one is easily one of the must-tries, and perfect for vegetarians.

Fresh Homemade Tomato Soup: If you, like me, grew up only having tomato soup out of a can, then you will especially love this flavorful and nutrient-dense vegetable soup dish. (more…)

Posted on December 20, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Bob’s Red Mill Soups Make a Healthy Hostess Gift

You no doubt have a million holiday parties to attend this year, which leaves you with the dreaded decision of what to bring as a hostess gift. If you are sick of giving out the same bottle of wine to every host and hostess, go with a healthy, nutritious gift that is fun to give and can be personalized for every occassion.

For me, there is nothing I crave more on a cold winter’s day than a big bowl of thick, filling soup. Curling up on the couch to watch a movie with the cold rain falling outside (I live in Seattle, snow is a rarity) really gets me into the holiday spirit. Give your hostess everything they need to make a big batch of healthy, filling soup in one easy package using Bob’s Red Mill soups.

Bob’s Red Mill soups come in handy bags full of all the delicious and wholesome ingredients you need to make a big batch of hearty soup. Available in a variety of flavors and full of beans and whole grains, Bob’s Red Mill soup mixes are ready to go*- you can just pour the soup mix into a pot with water or broth, add any of your favorite spices, and let simmer.

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Posted on December 8, 2023 by Kelly

Infuse Your Favorite Fall Recipes with Seasonal Vegetables

Fall weather typically means cooler temperatures and heartier meals. However, eating heartier doesn’t have to mean you are eating foods that are unhealthy. You can easily use seasonal vegetables that are available this fall to add flavor and nutrition to your traditional fall recipes.

Vegetables that are available during the fall season include Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, broccoli, potatoes and turnips. For fruits, be on the look out for apples, dates, pears, kiwi and tangerines. Simply putting some of these items on your grocery list can help inspire you to infuse them into your meals. Since these items are at their peak during the fall season, you can get them at a good price and while they are at their freshest.

Below are a few ideas that incorporate seasonal produce with your everyday fall favorites.

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Posted on October 20, 2023 by Descygna

Fall Comfort Foods for Vegetarians

As the weather grows cooler, it’s easy to fall into the temptation of hearty, stick-to-your ribs comfort foods. When you think of comfort food, you probably think about tucking into a rich bowl of beef stew or a cheese-laden pasta bake, but hearty doesn’t have to mean unhealthy this year.

Comfort foods tend to be rich and decadent, which holds especially true for vegetarians who have to rely on cheese and often fattening dairy products to give their favorite hearty dishes the textures and flavors they crave.

Next time you’re looking for a healthy, hearty dish to warm you up, think meatless with one of our favorite meat-free recipes.

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Posted on October 5, 2023 by Maris

Healthy Fall Produce Recipes for Crisp Days

Summer is fun – especially going to the beach and other water events – but fall is my favorite season. Wearing jeans, watching football, and the crisp fall weather all comes together to create a delightful time.

One of the stand out features of the fall is the availability of fall produce – the cooler days make it perfect to turn on your oven and slow roast the heavier squashes and comfort soups for which the season begs. Try some of these terrific, tasty fall dishes that won’t break the calorie bank but will satiate your taste buds and warm you from the inside out.

Puree butternut squash in small batches in your blender to make this Butternut Squash Soup recipe from Elana’s Pantry. Top each bowl with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt to lend depth of flavor.

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Posted on September 17, 2023 by Carmen

How to Cook Healthy Thai Food at Home

While the Pad Thai from your favorite Thai take-out joint has an average of 500 calories per cup, the food you would eat if you traveled to Thailand is quite different – and better for you.

According to food blogger and author Joy Buasi from Joy’s Thai Food, Thai cuisine is well known for its fresh ingredients, robust spiciness and complex flavors and aromas. While chili powder, fresh citrus juices and fish stock are common Thai food flavorings, the cuisine is also peppered with peanuts, coconut milk and oil.

If you want to reap the healthy benefits of Thai cuisine, make your own at home so that you can limit the high-calorie ingredients and take advantage of the ingredients full of nutrients.

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Posted on August 26, 2023 by Maris

Campbell’s Adds More Salt to Soups to Boost Sales

Guest article provided by FoodFacts.com

Do you recall the older winter-time commercial of a snowman dragging his feet into his home from a blizzard; and sitting down to a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup? As he took one sip the snow melted off and what was left was a little boy with a huge smile. That’s Campbell’s. They’re marketing and ads have proven to be successful for many years now, because they are the most popular soup can on store shelves. Why? It could be their advertising, their coupons and incentives, or it could be their salt-filled broth that most Americans have grown to adore.

Fact of the matter is that people-love-salt. Salt on pasta, salt on eggs, salt on mashed potatoes, salt on chicken, the list goes on and on. Campbell’s took notice of this a LONG time ago. They’ve been producing soups with high sodium levels since they first opened their factories in 1869. One half-cup serving of their chicken noodle soup is 890mg of sodium. That’s almost HALF of your daily value of sodium for one day, in just HALF a cup. So basically, you consume one whole can, you’ve had your recommended sodium for the entire day in just 5 minutes, and maybe a little more. (more…)

Posted on August 3, 2023 by GuestBlogger